Golf Digest Woman

American Idol

Christina Kim talks about everything from the Solheim Cup to science fiction

Q: You won three matches in this year's Solheim Cup. A career highlight?

A: It was the most incredible week of my life. The Solheim crowds are unbelievable: They're rowdy, they sing songs. Patriotism makes people behave differently.

Q: What do you say to those who thought your exuberant celebrations crossed the line?

A: I don't believe I did anything that was disrespectful. I quieted the crowds and had them stop whenever my opponents were hitting. Plus, I was one of 12. We were all throwing our hands up in the air and thoroughly enjoying it. That's part of the beauty of the Solheim Cup. It's a different competition.

Q: You've lost close to 40 pounds in the past year. How did you do it?

A: When I lost weight back in '06, it was a little psychotic. I was doing nothing but eating spinach and running like 10 miles a day. It's taken me a lot longer to lose the weight this time, but I'm doing it in a healthier way. I've cut out carbs, and I sprint every day. I have loads more energy and feel good about myself. I can move better on the golf course.

Q: What don't we know about Christina Kim?

A: Deep down, I'm a very sensitive person. I'm a total gadget nerd. I'm also really into macro [close-up] photography, and I read at least a book a week on my Kindle DX -- from Chuck Palahniuk to science fiction.